Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 19

February 19, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Rapidly reconfigurable waveform generator on a CMOS chip could be used for high-speed wireless communication 
- Researchers first to observe Higgs boson analogue in superconductors 
- New nanogel for drug delivery 
- Animals tend to evolve toward larger size over time, study finds 
- No need for color correction: Perfect colors, captured with one ultra-thin lens 
- Telescopes give shape to furious black hole winds 
- Sunlight continues to damage skin in the dark 
- Data from RHIC, other experiments nearly rule out role of 'dark photons' as explanation for 'g-2' anomaly 
- Researchers build atomically thin gas and chemical sensors 
- Evolving a bigger brain with human DNA 
- Direct observation of bond formations 
- A new view of the solar system: Astrophysical jets driven by the sun 
- Group dynamics, not star proteins, drive mechanics of crucial cell process 
- New brain mapping reveals unknown cell types 
- Study outlines impact of tsunami on the Columbia River 

Nanotechnology news

	New nanogel for drug delivery Scientists are interested in using gels to deliver drugs because they can be molded into specific shapes and designed to release their payload over a specified time period. However, current versions aren't always practical because must be implanted surgically.
	Researchers build atomically thin gas and chemical sensors The relatively recent discovery of graphene, a two-dimensional layered material with unusual and attractive electronic, optical and thermal properties, led scientists to search for other atomically thin materials with unique properties.
	Cheap solar cells made from shrimp shells The materials chitin and chitosan found in the shells are abundant and significantly cheaper to produce than the expensive metals such as ruthenium, which is similar to platinum, that are currently used in making nanostructured solar-cells.
	Shape-shifting groups of nanorods release heat differently Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have revealed previously unobserved behaviors that show how details of the transfer of heat at the nanoscale cause nanoparticles to change shape in ensembles.
	Microfluidic diamond sensor: Moving bio particles magnetically Measuring faint magnetic fields is a trillion-dollar business.  Gigabytes of data, stored and quickly retrieved from chips the size of a coin, are at the heart of consumer electronics.   Even higher data densities can be achieved by enhancing magnetic detection sensitivity—-perhaps down to nano-tesla levels.
	Free-standing monolayers made from protein-bound gold nanoparticles Free-standing nanoparticle films are of great interest for technical applications, such as the development of nanoelectronic devices. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, Korean scientists have introduced very flexible and stable monolayers of gold nanoparticles made by a self-assembly process based on protein aggregation. The films were used to coat wafers up to 10 cm in diameter.
	Potential toxicity of cellulose nanocrystals examined Novel nanomaterials derived from cellulose have many promising industrial applications, are biobased and biodegradable, and can be produced at relatively low cost. Their potential toxicity—whether ingested, inhaled, on contact with the skin, or on exposure to cells within the body—is a topic of intense discussion, and the latest evidence and insights on cellulose nanocrystal toxicity are presented in a Review article in Industrial Biotechnology.

Physics news

	Rapidly reconfigurable waveform generator on a CMOS chip could be used for high-speed wireless communication (Phys.org)—An arbitrary waveform generator can, as its name implies, generate waves of almost any shape by controlling the amplitude, frequency, phase, and other wave characteristics. Waveform generators working in the radio frequency (RF) regime have a wide variety of uses in electronics, including wireless communication, radar, high-speed testing, and anywhere complex signals are needed. Typically, waveform generators are about the size of a DVD player. However, future wireless applications will require waveform generation and processing on a silicon chip.
	Data from RHIC, other experiments nearly rule out role of 'dark photons' as explanation for 'g-2' anomaly Scientists searching for signs of elusive "dark photons" as an explanation for an anomaly in a groundbreaking physics experiment have nearly ruled out their role. Though the postulated particles could still exist as carriers of a force affecting dark matter, it is increasingly unlikely these particles from the "dark sector" can explain the discrepancy scientists have seen between a precision measurement of the behavior of muons (cousins of more familiar electrons) and calculations based on the reigning theory of particle interactions.
	Researchers first to observe Higgs boson analogue in superconductors The Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the Higgs boson - the "God particle" believed responsible for all the mass in the universe - took place in 2012 at CERN's Large Hadron Collider, an underground facility where accelerated sub-atomic particles zip around the circumference of a 27-kilometer (16.9-mile) ring-shaped tunnel. But what goes around comes around: more than 50 years ago, the first hint of Higgs was inspired by the study of superconductors - a special class of metals that, when cooled to very low temperatures, allow electrons to move without resistance.
	No need for color correction: Perfect colors, captured with one ultra-thin lens Most lenses are, by definition, curved. After all, they are named for their resemblance to lentils, and a glass lens made flat is just a window with no special powers. But a new type of lens created at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) turns conventional optics on its head.
Beyond silicon: New semiconductor moves spintronics toward reality A new semiconductor compound is bringing fresh momentum to the field of spintronics, an emerging breed of computing device that may lead to smaller, faster, less power-hungry electronics.

Earth news

	Raindrop physics may affect the accuracy of state-of-the-art climate models Big clouds get bigger and small clouds shrink may seem like a simple statement, but the myriad mechanisms behind how clouds are born, grow, and die are surprisingly complex. These very mechanisms may be key to understanding future weather patterns and global climate change. In a study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, a team led by scientists from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory examined how well a state-of-the-art high-resolution model simulated tropical clouds and their interaction with the warm ocean surface compared to real-world observations. They found that factors as small as how sizes of raindrops were represented in the model made a big difference in the accuracy of the results.
	Study finds climate change may dramatically reduce wheat production A recent study involving Kansas State University researchers finds that in the coming decades at least one-quarter of the world's wheat production will be lost to extreme weather from climate change if no adaptive measures are taken.
	Study outlines impact of tsunami on the Columbia River Engineers at Oregon State University have completed one of the most precise evaluations yet done about the impact of a major tsunami event on the Columbia River, what forces are most important in controlling water flow and what areas might be inundated.
	Methane leaks from three large US natural gas fields in line with federal estimates Tens of thousands of pounds of methane leak per hour from equipment in three major natural gas basins that span Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Pennsylvania, according to airborne measurements published today. But the overall leak rate from those basins is only about one percent of gas production there—lower than leak rates measured in other gas fields, and in line with federal estimates.
Natural gas trucking fleet could benefit economy, but has mixed environmental effects Switching from diesel fuel to natural gas may hold advantages for the nation's heavy-duty trucking fleet, but more needs to be done to reach the full environmental benefits, according to a report released today from the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis, and Rice University.
	Image: Snow-covered northeastern United States Yet another potent winter storm battered the northeastern United States on Feb. 14-15, 2015. The nor'easter brought 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 centimeters) of snow across much of eastern New England, along with tropical storm force winds over 60 miles (100 kilometers) per hour. The latest snowfall pushed Boston to its highest monthly total on record—58 inches and counting—and its third highest yearly snow total.
	Bringing high tech to soil research 2015 is the International Year of the Soils. Healthy soils are vital to sustainable food systems, clean lakes, verdant forests, and the health of our planet. In honour of the occasion, we offer you a profile of a scientist committed to studying the key elements in our soils.
	Geomicrobiologists show how microbial fossils resist the conditions of rock formation Since life originated on Earth between 3.8 and 3.9 Ga ago, microorganisms have significantly shaped and influenced the chemistry of Earth's surface and subsurface environments. Reconstructing the evolution of early microbial life depends mainly on finding organic and mineral remnants of microbial activity preserved in the rock record. Even when microfossils are found, there are often controversies about their biological origin, since parameters that lead to a good preservation of microfossils are not well constrained.
Climate engineering no longer on the fringe When the National Academy of Sciences released a pair of reports earlier this month on geoengineering—deliberate intervention in the climate system to counter global warming—it moved discussion of the controversial topic into the mainstream science community. The NAS-convened experts concluded that geoengineering is no silver bullet, but that further research is needed.
	Where do those snowfall totals on the nightly news come from? The Blue Hill Observatory, a few miles south of Boston, recently recorded the deepest snow cover in their 130-year history, an incredible 46 inches. Earlier this month, Bangor, Maine tied their own record for deepest snow at 53 inches. Mountainous locations will sometimes see triple-digit snow depths.
	Clearing up Europe's air pollution hotspots Current air quality legislation in Europe will lead to significant improvements in particulate matter pollution, but without further emission control efforts, many areas of Europe will continue to see air pollution levels above the limits of the EU and the World Health Organization. Strict control of vehicle emissions alone will not be sufficient to achieve the limit values.
	Case study of microplastics in the ocean Plastic: its ubiquity and longevity is having a significant impact on the marine environment. That's the diagnosis of one of the world's leading experts in the field, Professor Richard Thompson, who is providing evidence to show the escalating presence of microscopic plastic particles in our oceans. It is research that has catapulted Richard into an advisory capacity with policy-makers and conservation agencies worldwide.
	Winter weather both toasty and cold; a tale of two nations It may be hard to believe for a country that's shivering from Maine to Miami, but 2015 has gotten off to a rather toasty start.
Dinner Creek Tuff Eruptive Center, eastern Oregon Understanding of the Yellowstone hotspot and its connection to flood basalts of the Columbia River Basalt province (western and northwestern USA) has grown tremendously over the past decades since the model was first proposed in 1972. Despite strong support for a plume origin of the entire Yellowstone-Columbia River Basalt magmatic province, new non-plume models have emerged to explain early flood basalt volcanism.
	NASA covers Tropical Cyclone Lam's landfall in Northern Territory As Tropical Cyclone Lam made landfall in Australia's Northern Territory on Feb. 19 (EST), NASA satellites and instruments gathered data on the storm's structure and behavior. Two instruments aboard NASA's Aqua satellite, NASA-JAXA's GPM core satellite, the RapidScat instrument aboard the International Space Station provided information to forecasters before and after Lam came ashore.

Astronomy & Space news

	Telescopes give shape to furious black hole winds NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) and ESA's (European Space Agency) XMM-Newton telescope are showing that fierce winds from a supermassive black hole blow outward in all directions—a phenomenon that had been suspected, but difficult to prove until now.
	Does dark matter cause mass extinctions and geologic upheavals? Research by New York University Biology Professor Michael Rampino concludes that Earth's infrequent but predictable path around and through our Galaxy's disc may have a direct and significant effect on geological and biological phenomena occurring on Earth. In a new paper in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, he concludes that movement through dark matter may perturb the orbits of comets and lead to additional heating in the Earth's core, both of which could be connected with mass extinction events.
	Disintegrating rocky exoplanet could unlock secrets to how our solar system was formed Exciting new research by astronomers at The Open University (OU) and the Universities of Warwick and Sheffield has opened up the chance to find out what distant planets are made of. The team of astronomers have made observations which can help reveal the chemical makeup of a small rocky world orbiting a distant star about 1500 light years away from Earth, increasing our understanding of how planets, including ours, were formed.
	Mars hills hide icy past A complex network of isolated hills, ridges and small basins spanning 1400 km on Mars is thought to hide large quantities of water-ice.
	A new view of the solar system: Astrophysical jets driven by the sun As the sun skims through the galaxy, it flings out charged particles in a stream of plasma called the solar wind, and the solar wind creates a bubble extending far outside the solar system known as the heliosphere. For decades, scientists have visualized the heliosphere as shaped like a comet, with a very long tail extending thousands of times as far as the distance from the Earth to the sun.
	Hubble gets best view of a circumstellar debris disk distorted by a planet Astronomers have used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to take the most detailed picture to date of a large, edge-on, gas-and-dust disk encircling the 20-million-year-old star Beta Pictoris.
	MAVEN spacecraft completes first deep dip campaign NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution has completed the first of five deep-dip maneuvers designed to gather measurements closer to the lower end of the Martian upper atmosphere.
	The origin of the magnetic field covering the Sun has been discovered The magnetic field that covers the sun and determines its behavior –the eleven year cycles no less than such conspicuous phenomena as solar spots and solar storms– also has another side to it: a magnetic web that covers the entire surface of the sun at rest and whose net magnetic flow is greater than that of the active areas. A study led by the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC) has revealed where the flow that feeds this web comes from.
	Why can't we design the perfect spacesuit? So far, every spacesuit humans have utilized has been designed with a specific mission and purpose in mind. As of yet, there's been no universal or "perfect" spacesuit that would fit every need. For example, the US ACES "pumpkin" suits and the Russian Sokol are only for launch and reentry and can't be used for spacewalks. And the Apollo A7L suits were designed with hard soled boots for astronauts to walk on the Moon, while the current NASA EMU and the Russian Orlan are designed for use in space, but with soft soled booties so as not to damage the exterior of the space station.
	Dance of the planets in the evening sky Armagh Observatory reports that the next two weeks provide a rare opportunity to observe the planets Venus, Mars and Uranus in the western evening sky after sunset, and the bright planet Jupiter rising high in the East about the same time.
	New Mexico Senate panel passes on spaceport sale bill New Mexico lawmakers on Thursday debated the merits of Spaceport America and whether its futuristic hangar, its nearly 2-mile-long runway and the 18,000 acres that surround it will offer a return on taxpayers' nearly quarter-billion-dollar investment.
	NASA delays space station spacewalk because of suit issue A series of upcoming spacewalks at the International Space Station will begin a day late.
	Stanford pair helping predict solar storms Life as a forecaster is not easy. Just ask National Weather Service forecasters who misjudged how a recent winter storm would impact the Big Apple. Now imagine trying to predict weather activity on a burning sphere 1.3 million times larger than Earth and 93 million miles away. That is the task of space weather forecasters, who watch the sun carefully for solar flare activity, knowing it can garble radio communications, cook satellites and shut off the lights for millions.
	Image: Polish human centrifuge How do you prepare for the unique experience of weightlessness on a parabolic aircraft flight? An ESA-led team took a ride on this human centrifuge at Poland's Military Institute of Aviation Medicine.
	Why the new moon on February 18th is special Did you hear the one about last month's 'supermoon?'

Technology news

	HTTP/2, HPACK specs approved, headed to RFC Editor Wednesday's news about HTTP2, which promises to deliver Web pages to browsers more efficiently, is news enough: It's Done. Mark Nottingham, chair of the IETF HTTP Working Group and a member of the W3C Technical Architecture Group (TAG), blogged that "The IESG has formally approved the HTTP/2 and HPACK specifications, and they're on their way to the RFC Editor, where they'll soon be assigned RFC numbers, go through some editorial processes, and be published." HTTP, of course, is short for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. That may be the only alphabet cluster readily familiar to many. Someone in Nottingham's world, however, as he has helped develop the Web and associated technologies for over 15 years, would easily recognize the other acronyms and get the messages instantly.
	Engineers develop new air filter that could help Beijing residents breathe easily In the past few years, Yi Cui has made several business trips to China. Each time he has found himself choked by smog produced by automobiles and coal power plants.
	Can an LED-filled "robot garden" make coding more accessible? Here's one way to get kids excited about programming: a "robot garden" with dozens of fast-changing LED lights and more than 100 origami robots that can crawl, swim, and blossom like flowers.
	OpenStreetMap adds A to B directions (Phys.org)—The people who run OpenStreetMap.org (the foundation) have announced that A to B directions have been added to the open source web site. While acknowledging that adding directions has been done by many other websites, e.g. Google, Yahoo, they suggest it is a step forward for the site because it will allow for feedback loops that are not available on other web mapping sites.
	EtherChip EC482 will bring "Active Steering" tech for Wi-Fi Vendors and consumers can agree: connectivity matters, and not just poetically speaking, or in the context of social networking. As for many, staying digitally connected is quite real a requirement and has become a lifeline of its own, in terms of ability to do work and in terms of access to vital information. San Diego-based Ethertronics is a business that provides connectivity via antenna and RF systems solutions. On Tuesday the company announced news of an active steering IC, with embedded processor for Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) applications. This is the EtherChip EC482, with potential impact on cable and satellite markets. The company said its team can integrate EC482 products, including access points, set-top boxes, WiFi clients, WiFi extenders, wearables and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
	Snowden leak: NSA helped British steal cell phone codes Britain's electronic spying agency, in cooperation with the U.S. National Security Agency, hacked into the networks of a Dutch company to steal codes that allow both governments to seamlessly eavesdrop on mobile phones worldwide, according to the documents given to journalists by Edward Snowden.
	Volvo says self-driving cars will react 'faster than most humans' Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars announced Thursday that it had completed designs for self-driving cars which it plans to put on the road in two years.
BlackShades owner pleads guilty in US in malware case The co-creator of sophisticated BlackShades malware pleaded guilty Wednesday to a criminal charge after authorities said his product infected over a half-million computers in more than 100 countries.
	After Google Glass, Apple Watch, Japan offers wearable tomatoes As the world's electronic companies scramble to set the agenda for wearable devices, one Japanese vegetable juice maker went one better Thursday, unveiling a wearable tomato machine.
	Using digital devices to encourage reading with kids, meditation and more We use technology to run everything from our home thermostats to our social lives, but can it also make us better parents? A pair of new studies examines that very question, and preliminary findings are encouraging.
Increased fragmentation of 'dark Web' poses great security challenge It would not be surprising to see the dark Web's criminal underbelly become more fragmented, and therefore more complicated to investigate given wide-spread online surveillance by states and the recent arrests of cybercriminals. This is according to a new working paper issued by the Global Commission on Internet Governance (GCIG).
	Superconducting material limits short-circuit currents Siemens develops superconducting fault current limiters for limiting short-circuit currents in the grid. Superconductors show zero resistance below the critical temperature and below the critical current. They are thus more energy efficient than conventional series reactors. Despite the fact that superconducting components require cooling, the technology can help to reduce the power losses by half compared to the losses caused by currently usedseries reactors. Siemens will test the new superconducting fault current limiter in cooperation with the Augsburg municipal utility company and install a prototype in the grid by the end of 2015.
Computer scientists' app measures our online footprints Computer scientists from Trinity College Dublin have developed an app – Bigfoot – that will allow them to assess how accurately the online footprints we all leave represent our personalities in the real world.
	Breakthrough results on directed self-assembly reported At next week's SPIE advanced lithography conference, to be held in San Jose, Calif., Feb. 22-26, imec will present breakthrough results on Directed Self-Assembly (DSA) process development. Together with semiconductor equipment supplier Tokyo Electron and Merck, a leading chemical and pharmaceutical company that acquired AZ Electronic Materials in May 2014, imec has significantly improved DSA defectivity in the past year, approaching single-digit values.
	New NIST tools to help boost wireless channel frequencies and capacity Smartphones and tablets are everywhere, which is great for communications but a growing burden on wireless channels. Forecasted huge increases in mobile data traffic call for exponentially more channel capacity. Boosting bandwidth and capacity could speed downloads, improve service quality, and enable new applications like the Internet of Things connecting a multitude of devices.
	Suit says Apple 'poached' electric battery maker staff Apple has been sued by developers of an advanced automotive car battery for allegedly poaching key employees, providing evidence that the California tech giant is working on an electric vehicle.
	US revenge porn kingpin agrees to guilty plea The mastermind behind a US revenge porn website has agreed to plead guilty to computer hacking and identity theft charges, in a deal with federal prosecutors in Los Angeles.
Groups seek electronic collision alert devices on big trucks Four highway safety groups have asked U.S. safety regulators to require tractor-trailers and big buses to have devices that alert drivers to stopped traffic and brake the trucks if drivers don't respond.
	Yahoo seeking to harvest ad revenue from other mobile apps (Update) Yahoo will try to harvest revenue from mobile applications outside its own crop of services as CEO Marissa Mayer scours the digital landscape for more growth opportunities.
	Uber resurfaces in Spain with home food deliveries US smartphone app firm Uber reappeared in Spain Thursday as a home food delivery network after a court banned it from operating its taxi service following complaints from professional drivers.
Southwest Airlines boarding passes now compatible with iPhone Passbook Good news for iPhone owners who fly Southwest Airlines: The carrier this week updated its smartphone app so customers can store mobile boarding passes in the iPhone Passbook, which aggregates tickets, loyalty cards and electronic coupons from compatible apps.
'Revenge porn' operator to plead guilty in Los Angeles court (Update) The operator of a "revenge porn" website who posted stolen nude photos online has agreed to plead guilty to hacking and identity theft, according to court papers filed Wednesday in Los Angeles federal court.
	Greatly improving polycrystalline germanium transistor properties A research collaborative has developed a new polycrystalline film-forming technology to achieve a three-dimensional (3D) stacking technology for large-scale integrated circuits (LSIs), greatly improving the performance of N-type polycrystalline germanium (Ge) transistors.
	How social media can improve emergency service responses The majority of emergency service staff in Europe has a positive attitude towards integrating social media into emergency management processes, an EU-funded survey has found. Attitudes differ, however, depending on gender, age, and geographical location. For example, young female staff and those based in countries with high levels of social media use are significantly more likely to express positive attitudes.
	Supercomputer simulations explore how an air-reed instrument generates air flow and sound Hiroshi Yokoyama and his colleagues at Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology in collaboration with researchers at YAMAHA Corporation have succeeded in directly predicting sound radiating from a recorder for the first time all over the world (Figure 1, Movie 1). The calculations for this study took two weeks using about 100 nodes of supercomputers (FX10 in the Tokyo University or Kyushu University).
	Review: Knights of 'The Order' battle Victorian monsters When a game has "1886" in the title, you expect to see a few familiar characters: Sherlock Holmes, perhaps, or Jack the Ripper, or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. You don't expect the lead to be Sir Galahad.

Chemistry news

	The promiscuity of chemical probes discovered Researchers at IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute) have applied a new computational methodology to anticipate the degree of selectivity of the molecules that are used to study protein functions and reduce the risk of establishing erroneous relations between proteins and diseases. The proteins under study could be future candidates for new therapeutic targets. The study is published in the prestigious journal ACS Chemical Biology and was selected for the cover.
	Direct observation of bond formations A collaboration between researchers from KEK, the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), RIKEN, and the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI) used the SACLA X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) facility for a real time visualization of the birth of a molecular that occurs via photoinduced formation of a chemical bonds. This achievement was published in the online version of the scientific journal Nature.
Combination of imaging methods improves diagnostics Scientists from the Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Technische Universität München have succeeded in a breakthrough for the further development of contrast agents and consequently improved diagnostics with imaging using MRI procedures. The results have been published in the Angewandte Chemie International Edition journal.
	Near-perfect antibacterial materials Ruthless with bacteria, harmless to human cells. New, durable antibacterial coatings of nanocomposites, developed at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, will in future help to improve the hygiene of sportswear, and used in medicine, will reduce the rate of infections and shorten the times of in-patient hospital admissions.
	New detection technologies for bacterial pathogens In FP7 jargon, RAPTADIAG is categorised as a 'small or medium-scale focused research project'. However, the past two years have seen the consortium turn a novel diagnostic test for bacterial meningitis into what is likely to become a full-blown set of sensor technologies for detecting bacterial pathogens of all kinds.

Biology news

	Evolving a bigger brain with human DNA The size of the human brain expanded dramatically during the course of evolution, imparting us with unique capabilities to use abstract language and do complex math. But how did the human brain get larger than that of our closest living relative, the chimpanzee, if almost all of our genes are the same?
	Animals tend to evolve toward larger size over time, study finds Does evolution follow certain rules? If, in the words of the famed evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould, one could "rewind the tape of life", would certain biological trends reemerge? Asked another way: can evolution be predicted?
	New measures call theories about endocytosis into question Cellular biology still harbors mysteries. Notably, there is no unequivocal explanation behind endocytosis, the biological process that allows exchanges between a cell and its environment. Two hypotheses prevail for explaining how the wall caves in and forms transport vesicles: either the initial impetus is due to a scaffold-like structure which the soccer ball-shaped clathrin proteins build between themselves, or clathrin's role is minor, and it is other, &laquoadaptor" proteins who exert pressure on the cell wall until endocytosis begins. One recently completed study by the Faculty of Science at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) reconciles the two theories, suggesting a balance between forces present: clathrin proteins are only slightly more influential than the others, and it is a clever combination of physical mechanisms that contributes to creating favorable conditions for the deformation of the membrane. These conclusions capt! ured the interest of the editors of Nature Communications, who just published them.
	Is urbanization pushing Earth's evolution to a tipping point? That humans and the cities we build affect the ecosystem and even drive some evolutionary change in species' traits is already known. The signs are small but striking: Spiders in cities are getting bigger and salmon in rivers are getting smaller; birds in urban areas are growing tamer and bolder, outcompeting their country cousins.
	Research efforts yielding major advances in understanding immunological memory (Phys.org)—Two teams of researchers both working in the U.S. have announced new breakthroughs in better understanding how immunological memory works. Both teams have published their findings in the journal Nature. The first team, made up of members from several academic institutions across the country, describe their study of part of the process by which bacteria fend off secondary viral attacks. The second team, with Rockefeller University, describes a system they devised for in vitro study of immunological memory at the bacterial level. Ido Yosef and Udi Qimron with Tel Aviv University offer a News and Views piece on the work done by the two teams in the same journal issue.
	Group dynamics, not star proteins, drive mechanics of crucial cell process Like a surgeon separating conjoined twins, cells have to be careful to get everything just right when they divide in two. Otherwise, the resulting daughter cells could be hobbled, particularly if they end up with too many or two few chromosomes. Successful cell division hangs on the formation of a dip called a cleavage furrow, a process that has remained mysterious. Now, researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that no single molecular architect directs the cleavage furrow's formation; rather, it is a robust structure made of a suite of team players.
	Minimizing 'false positives' key to vaccinating against bovine TB New diagnostic tests are needed to make vaccination against bovine tuberculosis (bovine TB) viable and the number of false positives from these tests must be below 15 out of every 10,000 cattle tested, according to research published today in the journal PLOS Computational Biology.
	Ovulation shares both cellular and genetic features between fruit flies and mice The average American woman lives more than 80 years and ovulates for 35 of them, producing an egg approximately once a month. The typical fruit fly lives about 4 weeks as an adult and ovulates every 30 minutes. Now researchers at the University of Connecticut report in PLOS Genetics that during a key process, the same gene may govern both. If correct, the results could bring insight to cancer metastasis, human fertility and ovarian disease.
	Gene may help reduce GM contamination Genetically modified crops have long drawn fire from opponents worried about potential contamination of conventional crops and other plants. Now a plant gene discovered by University of Guelph scientists might help farmers reduce the risk of GM contamination and quell arguments against the use of transgenic food crops, says Sherif Sherif, lead author of a new research paper describing the findings.
	Oyster ecosystems a huge loss for South Australia Researchers at the University of Adelaide have discovered the loss of one of the State's most significant marine ecosystems, which may have disappeared some 70 years ago.
	Researchers identify, name toxic cyanobacteria killing American bald eagles University of Georgia researchers have formally identified and named toxic cyanobacteria that have been killing American bald eagles across the Southeast.
	Killing fish egg fungus with a disinfectant A product used as a disinfectant in agriculture, food preparation, and medical facilities also kills a fungus that causes the disease saprolegniasis on catfish eggs, and it has the potential to treat harmful parasites.
	Space-age technology points African herders in right direction Space-age technology is coming to the aid of rural herders in Kenya, helping them deal with drought, climate change, civil unrest and land-use pressures that threaten food security in the region.
Jumping genes have essential biological functions "Alu" sequences are small repetitive elements representing about 10% of our genome. Because of their ability to move around the genome, these "jumping genes" are considered as real motors of evolution. However, they were considered for a long time as "junk" DNA, because, although they are transcribed into RNA, they encode no proteins and do not seem to participate actively in the cell's functions. Now, the group of Katharina Strub, professor at the Faculty of Science of the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, has uncovered two key functions of Alu RNAs in human cells, which are the subject of two different articles published in Nucleic Acids Research.
	Fighting decline of pollinators in Europe Pollination is crucial to providing food security with 84% of European crops benefitting, at least in part, from insect pollination and 78% of temperate wildflowers needing biotic pollination. An estimated ~10% of the total economic value of European agricultural output for human food amounted to €22 billion in 2005 (€14.2 for the EU) was dependent upon insect pollination.
	New study reveals the global impact of debris on marine life Nearly 700 species of marine animal have been recorded as having encountered man-made debris such as plastic and glass according to the most comprehensive impact study in more than a decade.
Invasive weed's resistance to well-known herbicide stems from increase in gene copies A recent study by a Kansas State University weed scientist finds why the invasive weed kochia is like a cockroach of the plant world.
	Probiotic toxin fights coldwater disease in rainbow trout The rainbow trout is a work of art and diner's delight. But when the freshwater fish falls prey to Coldwater Disease, its colorful body erodes into ragged wounds and ulcers. The bacterial infection can kill up to 30 percent of hatchery stock and causes millions of dollars in economic loss.
Amaranth seeds may prevent chronic diseases The tiny seed of an amaranth grain may be able to help prevent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, according to a review of existing research in Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).
	Cattle damage to riverbanks can be undone Simply removing cattle may be all that is required to restore many degraded riverside areas in the American West, although this can vary and is dependent on local conditions. These are the findings of Jonathan Batchelor and William Ripple of Oregon State University in the US, lead authors of a study published in Springer's journal Environmental Management. Their team analyzed photographs to gauge how the removal of grazing cattle more than two decades ago from Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in eastern Oregon has helped to rehabilitate the natural environment.
More sick sea lion pups washing up on California beaches Four times more sick and dying sea lion pups have gotten stranded on California beaches this year, and experts say unusually warm ocean water along the West Coast is to blame.
Pigs can regulate sulfur retention when distillers dried grains are included in diet Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), a co-product of the ethanol industry, is becoming a more common ingredient in swine diets. However, DDGS can be high in sulfur, and data are limited on the amount of sulfur that pigs can tolerate in the diet. Therefore, researchers at the University of Illinois have conducted research to investigate effects of high levels of sulfur in diets for pigs.
Egg-laying season starts at California condor breeding sites Egg-laying season has started at four breeding facilities for captive California condors, North America's largest bird.

Medicine & Health news

	Sunlight continues to damage skin in the dark Much of the damage that ultraviolet radiation (UV) does to skin occurs hours after sun exposure, a team of Yale-led researchers concluded in a study that was published online Feb. 19 by the journal Science.
	New clues to causes of birth defects Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have found a possible clue to why older mothers face a higher risk for having babies born with conditions such as Down syndrome that are characterized by abnormal chromosome numbers.
	Researchers uncover a new role of 'moonlighting' proteins Although known to regulate fundamental cellular processes in humans, including cell growth, division and programmed cell death, the protein group known as chloride intracellular channel (CLIC) proteins is yet to be fully understood.
	New ALS gene and signaling pathways identified Using advanced DNA sequencing methods, researchers have identified a new gene that is associated with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that results in the loss of all voluntary movement and is fatal in the majority of cases. The next-generation genetic sequencing of the exomes (protein-coding portions) of 2,874 ALS patients and 6,405 controls represents the largest number of ALS patients to have been sequenced in a single study to date.
	New brain mapping reveals unknown cell types Using a process known as single cell sequencing, scientists at Karolinska Institutet have produced a detailed map of cortical cell types and the genes active within them. The study, which is published in the journal Science, marks the first time this method of analysis has been used on such a large scale on such complex tissue. The team studied over three thousand cells, one at a time, and even managed to identify a number of hitherto unknown types.
	Neck pain can be changed through altered visual feedback Using virtual reality to misrepresent how far the neck is turned can actually change pain experiences in individuals who suffer from chronic neck pain, according to research published in Psychological Science.
	Evolution may hold the key to more designer cancer drugs like Gleevec This is the story of Abl and Src—two nearly identical protein kinases whose evolution may hold the key to unlocking new, highly specific cancer drugs.
	Plastics chemical tied to changes in boys' reproductive development When expectant mothers are exposed to plastics chemicals called phthalates during the first trimester, their male offspring may have a greater risk of infertility later in life, a new study suggests.
Improved health care systems needed to combat obesity crisis Policy and environmental changes are very important in preventing unhealthy weight gain but may not help people with severe obesity achieve substantial weight loss, according to a report published online February 18 in The Lancet. Instead, innovative new treatments, health delivery strategies and initiatives aimed at improving the care of people suffering from obesity must be deployed to fight what has now become a worldwide epidemic, says the lead author of the study.
More women now using compounded hormones without understanding the risks From 28% to 68% of women using hormones at menopause take compounded, so-called "bioidentical" hormones, but women don't understand the risks of these unapproved, untested treatments, shows an analysis of two large surveys, which was published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society.
25 percent of children who are homeless need mental health services A pilot study in Wake County, North Carolina, finds that 25 percent of children who are homeless are in need of mental health services. The study, conducted by researchers at North Carolina State University and Community Action Targeting Children who are Homeless (CATCH), highlights the need for more screening and support for the millions of homeless children in the United States.
	Stalking a wily foe: Scientists figure out how C. difficile bacteria wreak havoc in guts Sometimes, science means staying awake for two days straight.
	Healthy? No thanks: Diets of people worldwide are worsening There may be more fruit, vegetables and healthy options available than ever before, but the world is mostly hungry for junk food, according to a study of eating habits in nearly 190 countries.
Unhealthy eating habits outpacing healthy eating patterns in most world regions Worldwide, consumption of healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables has improved during the past two decades, but has been outpaced by the increased intake of unhealthy foods including processed meat and sweetened drinks in most world regions, according to the first study to assess diet quality in 187 countries covering almost 4.5 billion adults, published in The Lancet Global Health journal.
Sickness and health between men and women Gender and personality matter in how people cope with physical and mental illness, according to a paper by a Washington State University scientist and colleagues at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
WHO urges billions to fight neglected tropical diseases The World Health Organization on Thursday urged countries to invest billions of dollars to tackle 17 neglected tropical diseases—including dengue fever, leprosy and sleeping sickness—which kill 500,000 people globally each year.
	New study helps explain links between sleep loss and diabetes Lack of sleep can elevate levels of free fatty acids in the blood, accompanied by temporary pre-diabetic conditions in healthy young men, according to new research published online February 19, 2015, in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.
	Cancer risk linked to DNA 'wormholes' Single-letter genetic variations within parts of the genome once dismissed as 'junk DNA' can increase cancer risk through wormhole-like effects on far-off genes, new research shows.
	Biomarker discovery offers clearer prognosis for bowel and rectal cancer patients For the first time, a biomarker discovered by Macquarie University and Concord Repatriation General Hospital researchers will allow clinicians to distinguish certain types of colorectal cancer patients who do relatively well after surgery from those who may subsequently die from their disease.
	Stillbirth may increase women's long term risk for depression Women who deliver a stillborn infant—but who have no history of depression—may be at a higher risk for long-lasting depression, conclude researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The depression may last beyond the six months most people require to recover from a major loss and persist for as long as 36 months.
Brains of people with Down syndrome age faster, study discovers A new UCLA study is the first to demonstrate that Down syndrome accelerates aging in different parts of the body. The researchers showed that the biological age of brain tissue from someone with Down syndrome appeared 11 years older than the person's chronological age. Similarly, the biological age of blood tissue was nearly five years older than the person's chronological age. The UCLA team will next test tissue samples from teens with Down syndrome to pinpoint when aging speeds up in people with the condition.
	Disruption in brain signals sheds new light on melancholic depression UNSW researchers have identified a distinctive brain signature in people with melancholic depression, supporting calls for its classification as a unique mood disorder type.
Study shows rural disadvantages under Obamacare One year after the launch of Obamacare, some rural residents face significant disadvantages, a new Stanford study shows.
	Many LGBT medical students choose to stay 'in the closet,' study finds A survey of medical students found that about 30 percent of those who are sexual minorities don't disclose their sexual identities during medical school.
	Cancer referral targets missed for a whole year Targets to treat patients referred with suspected cancer were missed during every quarter of the last year, latest NHS England figures show.
	Highly processed foods linked to addictive eating A new University of Michigan study confirms what has long been suspected: highly processed foods like chocolate, pizza and French fries are among the most addictive.
	Camel, alpaca antibodies target anticancer viruses directly to tumors Using antibodies from camels and alpacas, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found a way to deliver anticancer viruses directly to tumor cells, leaving other types of cells uninfected.
Dog's successful surgery sets stage for treating humans Almost five years ago, a 7-year-old Labrador retriever was operated on using a technique eventually patented by Virginia Tech biomedical engineering faculty member Rafael Davalos. The beloved family pet suffer from a cancerous mass in the brain, and all other forms of medical treatment had been exhausted. The operation eradicated the malignant tumor, and follow up examinations proved the procedure's success.
	Anti-inflammatory drug counters obesity in mice Obesity represents a global health problem with limited options available for its prevention or treatment. The finding that a key regulator of energy expenditure and body weight is controlled by a drug-targeted inflammatory enzyme opens new possibilities for pharmacologically modulating body weight. This is the conclusion of a study led by Toshihiro Nakajima of Tokyo Medical University in Japan, reported in The EMBO Journal.
Sibling bullying experiences affect perceptions of peer bullying in study Sibling rivalry and aggression are part of growing up. It's fodder for sitcoms and family films, because anyone who has siblings most likely survived an occasional noogie or verbal lashing.
	Female diet alters the nutrient composition of fluid in the womb Scientists at the University of Soutahmpton's Faculty of Medicine have discovered that maternal diet affects the nutrient composition of fluid in the womb of women and thus may aid in the development of nutritional interventions to support the very earliest stages of pregnancy.
	High-quality, centre-based childcare can prevent difficulties High quality centre-based childcare appears to prevent the development of language and behavioural difficulties over time, particularly among vulnerable children. The factors that appear to affect children include space for learning activities, staff education, relationships with staff, activities offered, time spent in childcare and group size.
	Automatic quantification of heart valves from ultrasound Siemens has developed software, which uses advanced knowledge based data analytics to efficiently model heart valves from 3D Ultrasound images and quantify geometrical dimensions. Valve geometry features are critical for disease diagnostics as well as surgical and catheter based therapy. Today physicians are performing valve measurement using 2D imaging only, making the decision process time consuming and operator dependent, which reduces its reproducibility.
	Changes in work, family affect body mass index of dual-income earners A study co-written by a University of Illinois labor and employment relations professor shows that clocking extra hours at the office while juggling family demands takes a toll on the body mass index of individuals in dual-earner families.
	What is sugar's role in child hyperactivity? For years, parents have insisted that giving kids a big dose of sugar can amp them up, but the science failed to confirm their instincts. Now, with the rising awareness of sugar's role in our diets and health, scientists are once again asking whether sugar could play a role in the growing number of new ADHD cases in American kids. It still isn't entirely clear on whether added sugar is linked to hyperactivity or clinically diagnosed ADHD. But in some areas, the evidence is building. Here's what we do and don't know about ADHD, sugar and kids.
Delaying children’s school entry linked to poor academic performance Delaying school entry could cause poorer academic performance, according to new research from the University of Warwick and funded by the Nuffield Foundation.
Airport screening misses half of disease cases but could be improved Scientists have shown that airport screening for disease will often miss half or more of infected travellers, but can be improved by customizing to pathogens. The findings are published in the journal eLife.
	Study provides evidence for new approaches to prostate cancer Monitoring prostate cancer (PC) by active surveillance (AS), with the expectation to initiate treatment if the cancer progresses, is a preferred initial option for men with low-risk PC and a life expectancy of at least 10 years. According to the results of a new study conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), there is evidence to also support AS as an initial approach for men with favorable intermediate-risk of PC (men with no evidence of the cancer spreading beyond the prostate, a Gleason score of 3+4 or less and PSA, prostate-specific antigen, under 20). These findings are published online by JAMA Oncology.
Mitochondria adopt a crosswise pathway for decoding their genome Mitochondria, true energy power plants of cells, are able to release the energy contained in food by means of the oxygen which we inhale. These intracellular organelles possess their own DNA, and proteins derived from these genetic instructions are produced according to a specific process, which is not well known. Misregulation of this process can cause mitochondrial genetic diseases in humans.
	People with multiple sclerosis may have lower levels of key nutrients Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) may have lower levels of important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients, such as folate from food and vitamin E, than healthy people, according to a new study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, April 18 to 25, 2015.
	Risk of unexpected sarcoma being discovered after hysterectomy appears fairly low Uterine sarcoma - a potentially aggressive type of cancer that forms in tissues in the uterus - was found in 0.22 % of women following a hysterectomy for benign conditions, a new large-scale study by the University of Michigan departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Surgery finds.
Lab tests and ultrasounds identify children who need surgical treatment for appendicitis Data from two standard diagnostic tests commonly obtained in children evaluated for abdominal pain—when combined—can improve the ability of emergency department physicians and pediatric surgeons to identify those patients who should be sent to the operating room for prompt removal of an inflamed appendix; those who may be admitted for observation; and those who may safely be discharged home, according to a new study published online as an "article in press" in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS). The study will appear in a print edition of the Journal this spring.
	Flame retardants found to cause metabolic, liver problems Chemicals used as synthetic flame retardants that are found in common household items such as couches, carpet padding, and electronics have been found to cause metabolic and liver problems that can lead to insulin resistance, which is a major cause of obesity, according to new research from the University of New Hampshire.
New test to predict the effectiveness of cancer vaccines Cancer vaccines are designed to turn the body's own immune system specifically against tumor cells. Particularly promising are vaccines that are directed against so-called neoantigens: These are proteins that have undergone a genetic mutation in tumor cells and, therefore, differ from their counterparts in healthy cells. The tiny alteration - sometimes only a single protein building block has been changed - gives the protein on the tumor cell surface novel immunological characteristics that can be recognized as "foreign" by the immune system's T cells. Therapeutic vaccines using a short protein fragment, or peptide, specifically containing the mutated site can then direct immune cells specifically to the tumor.
	'Superbug' outbreak raises questions about medical tool A "superbug" outbreak suspected in the deaths of two Los Angeles hospital patients is raising disturbing questions about the design of a hard-to-clean medical instrument used on more than half a million people in the U.S. every year.
Evidence suggests that possible regulation of cigarettes not likely to significantly change US illicit tobacco market Although there is insufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions about how the U.S. illicit tobacco market would respond to any new regulations that modify cigarettes—for example, by lowering nicotine content—limited evidence suggests that demand for illicit versions of conventional cigarettes would be modest, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine.
Editorial issues a call to action for end-of-life care of older adults in nursing homes End-of-life care for nursing home residents has long been associated with poor symptom control and low family satisfaction. With more than one in four older Americans dying in a nursing home—including 70 percent of Americans with advanced dementia—an editorial published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association calls for bold action to improve the care and support provided to dying nursing home patients and their families.
	Breast cancer spread may be tied to cells that regulate blood flow Tumors require blood to emerge and spread. That is why scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center believe that targeting blood vessel cells known as pericytes may offer a potential new therapeutic approach when combined with vascular growth factors responsible for cell death.
Study shows sensor technology may help improve accuracy of clinical breast exams Sensor technology has the potential to significantly improve the teaching of proper technique for clinical breast exams (CBE), according to a new study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
	Growth hormone improves social impairments in those with autism-linked disorder A growth hormone can significantly improve the social impairment associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in patients with a related genetic syndrome, according to a pilot study conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published yesterday on Pub Med, a public database of biomedical topics maintained by the National Institutes of Health (study originally published in the December 12 issue of the journal Molecular Autism).
	Statins may not lower Parkinson's risk The use of statins may not be associated with lowering risk for Parkinson's disease, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State College of Medicine and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The findings cast doubts on reports suggesting that the cholesterol-lowering medications may protect against this neurodegenerative brain disorder.
	Mobile app with evidence-based decision support diagnoses more obesity, smoking, depression Smartphones and tablets may hold the key to getting more nurses to diagnose patients with chronic health issues like obesity, smoking, and depression—three of the leading causes of preventable death and disability. Mobile devices loaded with a custom app that prompts clinicians to follow evidence-based guidelines to make treatment decisions and document care plans makes nurses significantly more likely identify these health issues during routine exams, according to a study from Columbia University School of Nursing published in the Journal for Nurse Practitioners.
	Researchers wind up a 40 year old debate on betaretrovirus infection in humans In a new study published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, researchers at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry have shown that a betaretrovirus which resembles a mouse mammary tumor virus infects patients with the rare liver disease, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).
	Researchers study role of hydrogen sulfide in regulating blood pressure Widely considered simply a malodorous toxic gas, hydrogen sulfide is now being studied for its probable role in regulating blood pressure, according to researchers.
	Precision medicine to prevent diabetes? Personalized model could steer prevention efforts How can we keep more people from joining the ranks of the 29 million Americans already diagnosed with diabetes? What if we could tell with precision who has the highest risk of developing the disease, and figure out which preventive steps are most likely to help each of them individually?
Research shows that innovative transfusion approach has the potential save to lives The University of Maryland School of Medicine is part of a new nationwide, multi-site study that may help save hundreds of lives among trauma patients with major bleeding. The study, which was published earlier this month in JAMA, compared two different methods of blood transfusion, and found that one approach gave patients a significantly better chance of survival within the first 24 hours.
	US advisory group makes recommendations on diet A U.S. government advisory panel of medical and nutrition experts on Thursday recommended an environmentally friendly diet lower in red and processed meats. But the panel would reverse previous guidance on limiting dietary cholesterol. And it says the caffeine in a few cups of coffee could actually be beneficial.
	Americans still divided over obamacare (HealthDay)—The Affordable Care Act remains one of the most significant—and controversial—achievements of President Barack Obama's presidency.
	Are too many prostate cancer patients receiving treatment? (HealthDay)—New research suggests that a wait-and-watch approach for prostate cancer isn't being used often enough, and that more men are being treated than may be necessary.
	Low cancer risk with device used to remove fibroids, study finds (HealthDay)—A small power tool that is sometimes used to remove fibroids in the uterus can end up spreading bits of hidden cancerous tumors throughout the abdomen, but a new study suggests the likelihood is low.
	More Americans surviving cancer today than 20 years ago (HealthDay)—Survival rates are improving for many people with cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, liver and colon or rectum, especially for those diagnosed at younger ages, a new study reports.
	More Americans dying from hypothermia, CDC says (HealthDay)—More people are dying from hypothermia in the United States, a new government report shows, raising fresh worries for a nation that has been pounded by a steady succession of winter storms this year.
Folic acid fortification to prevent birth defects hits FDA roadblock Preventing certain devastating birth defects has become as easy as pie crust - and bread, cereal, pasta, and other grain products.
	HIV vaccine trial launches in South Africa A clinical trial called HVTN 100 has been launched in South Africa to study an investigational HIV vaccine regimen for safety and the immune responses it generates in study participants. This experimental vaccine regimen is based on the one tested in the U.S. Military HIV Research Program-led RV144 clinical trial in Thailand—the first study to demonstrate that a vaccine can protect people from HIV infection. The HVTN 100 vaccine regimen was designed to provide greater protection than the RV144 regimen and has been adapted to the HIV subtype that predominates in southern Africa. The results of the HVTN 100 trial, expected in two years, will help determine whether or not this vaccine regimen will be tested for efficacy in a large future study in South Africa.
Canada says mad cow born two years after regulations toughened Canada's food safety organization says a cow discovered on an Alberta farm with mad cow disease was born two years after the government imposed a tougher ban on animal feed to guard against the disease.
Obesity Series exposes 'unacceptably slow' progress in tackling soaring global obesity rates over last decade Global progress towards tackling obesity has been "unacceptably slow", with only one in four countries implementing a policy on healthy eating up to 2010, according to a major new six-part Series on obesity, published in The Lancet.
FDA issues warning as peanuts found in cumin spice Hundreds of products are being pulled from store shelves after traces of peanut were found in ground cumin spice—a life-threatening danger to some people with peanut allergies.
	Researchers ask if flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A is a reproductive or developmental toxicant Tetrabromobisphenol A, or TBBPA, is a useful flame retardant used in a variety of consumer products, including electrical equipment and household furniture. Organobromide flame retardants such as TBBPA are widely used due to their efficacy and in order to meet fire safety standards for products on the market, but concerns have been raised due to TBBPA's ability to leach into the environment and produce adverse effects on human health and ecosystems overall (Decherf and Demeneix, 2011).
	Detained children risk life-long physical and mental harm Many refugees and asylum seekers, including children, have experienced conflict, family separation and significant human rights violations, including torture, physical and sexual violence in their countries of origin and transit.
Research says approval of new drugs by NICE is 'doing more harm than good' Research by health economists at the University of York has, for the first time, estimated the effects of changes in NHS expenditure on the health of all NHS patients.
Unsafe burials increase in Ebola-hit countries: WHO Ebola-hit Sierre Leone and Guinea saw an increase in the last week in unsafe burials that risk spreading the disease, the World Health Organization reported.
Milk proteins show promise in prevention and treatment of cancer In a review of existing research, a team of Australian researchers found that milk proteins, consisting of short sequences called peptides, are potential candidates for the development of anticancer agents and can be generated by enzymatic action, such as those experienced during digestion or food processing, including fermentation. Their findings are in the recent issue of Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety published by the Institute of Food Technologists.
	US martial arts program helps kids manage cancer pain The young people who learn martial arts at a studio north of Detroit are not considered students.
Study exposes shocking lack of rabies reporting in countries where risk is greatest The first global survey of rabies reporting systems, published this week, has uncovered a shocking lack of preparedness against this deadly disease across Africa and Asia. Accurate reporting of rabies cases to authorities is a critical first step in controlling rabies and preventing further outbreaks.
	Severe asthma: Gallopamil confirmed as a therapeutic approach A team of Inserm researchers from the Cardio-Thoracic Research Centre of Bordeaux (Inserm/University of Bordeaux and Bordeaux University Hospital) has demonstrated the clinical efficacy of gallopamil in 31 patients with severe asthma. This chronic disease is characterised by remodelling of the bronchi, which exacerbates the obstruction of the airways already seen in "classic" asthma. In contrast to the reference treatment, gallopamil has proved capable of reducing the bronchial smooth muscle mass. This work is published in the 29 January 2015 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Study finds need for better concussion prevention in youth sports Dina Morrissey, M.D., M.P.H., research associate for The Injury Prevention Center at Hasbro Children's Hospital, recently led a study that found that while compliance with mandated provisions in youth sports concussion laws was high among Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) high schools, compliance with recommended concussion protocols was very limited. The study, recently published in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, suggests that more concussion related standards and protocols need to be written into law in order to raise compliance rates among youth sports groups.
	Cyberbullying linked to six-fold increase in depression among female college students More than 1 in 4 females have experienced cyberbullying in college, increasing their risk for depression. Female college students who acted as cyberbullies were also more likely to report problem alcohol use, according to a new study published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
	Colorado residents are first to ask feds to block legal pot (Update) Colorado already is being sued by two neighboring states for legalizing marijuana. Now, the state faces groundbreaking lawsuits from its own residents, who are asking a federal judge to order the new recreational industry to close.
Is health care too important to be left to health departments? Some governments have decided that health care is too important to leave to their health departments and have made health care a priority for all departments. The concept, called Health in All Policies, or HiAP, has gained traction in some governments but little research has gone into measuring its effectiveness.
Most patients with chronic kidney disease may experience long-term pain Chronic pain is common in individuals with kidney disease, and in some patients this is associated with improper use of pain medications. The findings come from a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).
Why are kidney patients starting dialysis sooner? Over time, patients with advanced kidney disease have been starting dialysis progressively earlier in the course of their disease, likely because doctors are embracing higher levels of kidney function as being appropriate for dialysis initiation. The findings come from a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).
Reynolds American delving deeper into nicotine gum business Cigarette maker Reynolds American Inc. is partnering with a pharmaceutical consultancy to develop products that help people stop smoking.
Court: Not disclosing HIV before sex is a misdemeanor New York's highest court says an HIV-positive man who told a partner that they could safely have unprotected sex should face a misdemeanor reckless endangerment charge, not a felony.
	Breast milk consumption trending among body builders (HealthDay)—Some bodybuilders are drinking human breast milk in the mistaken belief it will give a boost to their muscles.

Other Sciences news

Secret of extinct British marine reptile uncovered The fossil had been in the collections of Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery for more than 30 years until Dean Lomax (25) palaeontologist and Honorary Scientist at The University of Manchester, uncovered its hidden secrets.
Digital games and learning: Study finds helpful features, gaps A new report on how teachers use video games in classrooms identifies features they find most useful to track student learning, as well as gaps where better tools could help link games more closely to the curriculum.
	Popular friends on social media can help save you from disasters You may think your social media friends are only good for keeping you up with all the latest gossip and trends but research published today has found they can also help save you in the event of any natural disaster, especially if they're your popular friends.
	Words used in Chinese books illuminate how a nation's values changed during reforms As China has undergone rapid economic and social change in recent decades, an increase of individualistic values has been reflected in the word choices of Chinese authors.
	Throwing science at anti-vaxxers just makes them more hardline Since the uptick in outbreaks of measles in the US, those arguing for the right not to vaccinate their children have come under increasing scrutiny. There is no journal of "anti-vax psychology" reporting research on those who advocate what seems like a controversial, "anti-science" and dangerous position, but if there was we can take a good guess at what the research reported therein would say.